January

So at the start of the new year when I was filled with ambition I decide that, among other things, I would post my monthly recreational reads.  The thing is, when I tackled all my other resolutions, reading what I should, and attempting to do more of what I should, I realized I didn't have as much time for reading the extra stuff, funny how that works. (I won't lie, I'm pretty sure my addiction to Tiny Tower may also have affected the extracurricular reading as well) So....aside from book club stuff I only read two other books this month, both of them dystopian set YA . 

                                                                              

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

"It kills you when you have it and when you don't."

The basic premise is, love is a disease. Scientists have found the "cure", and it's not optional. Set in Portland, Maine, Lena is ninety-five days from the "cure" and if you can't see the writing on the wall here, I can't help you. I got sucked in pretty fast, my only issue with this book is that you know where it's going but it sure seems to take a long time getting there. Sometimes I wanted to reach in the book and smack the waffling protagonist. Overall I enjoyed this book enough that while I was reading it I was hooked enough that my house suffered.  I think that's the book rating system I should use, loads of laundry skipped or dishes left in the sink. 

Of course, turns out this book is number one in a trilogy, and optioned by FOX to be a movie. The second book Pandemonium comes out February 28th and there's a short story told from the perspective of Lena's friend Hana, also due out February 28th. I'm in.

Here's the book trailer the author has on her site.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

So I haven't exhausted all I have to say about this book but I'll spare you all. I re-read this book this month for movie prep and will just add that multiple readings has not dampened my enthusiasm for this series. Instead of beating a dead horse here though, I will simply gift you with the new trailer.

And let me say that I am so excited for this movie and overall love the look of it enough to overlook the obvious movie/book discrepancy with the Mockingjay pin.

What did you read this month?

Andrea

May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor

When someone asks me for book recommendations I have a couple go-to's and Hunger Games tops my list. In fact, my copy recently went out on another road trip. I have yet to come across someone immune to it's power. If you have for one reason or another not yet read this series, why not?

Regarding the movie, I have put all grumbling and complaining about casting behind me. This trailer turned my insides to jello and March 23rd can't come fast enough!

What book are you quick to suggest when someone asks?

I Promised Myself I Wouldn't Cry.....

Well, the wait is over, no more guesswork, no more lobbying, Gale and Peeta have been cast. I had prepared an entire post on the ‘potential’ Gales but that ship has apparently sailed. 

So I’ve come to terms with the Peeta pick, Josh Hutchenson was not my first pick, but like Randy Jackson, “I’m not mad”. I see how it can work. 

Josh Hutcherson

Now Gale, the pick for Gale has my blood boiling. I didn’t think I would even care, but I thought Gale was a no-brainer, I had him so pegged in my mind. He’s a little dangerous, which I know isn’t a physical description, but you know how that translates. He’s a little emo (minus the guy-liner) and I don’t know why this is important to me, but he has dark floppy hair. And he’s got those kind of looks that are ethnic, you just can’t quite figure out which ethnicity it is. Maybe this guy doesn’t exist. aybe my standards are too high. Anyway, what do you think, is Liam Hemsworth Gale? Maybe I’m being too hard on him because he dates Miley Cyrus. Chime in, set me straight.

Liam Hemsworth 'Gale'

One last thought, what do you think about this guy? Does his Nickelodeon career make him ineligible for the 'dangerous' bit? 

Avan Jogia

                                 

                                  

Say it ain't so!!!

So looking at my posts you might think that all I do is sit around and complain about movie casting, it's not true, I complain about a variety of subjects, not limited to Hollywood gossip and news. Anyway, big news hit the web, Katniss Everdeen, Hunger Games heroine has been cast. If you hold this trilogy in any regard you too want them to get this series right. So I ask you, does this look like Katniss to you?


                          


Ummm...Hello, Katniss is 16! Part of the atrocity of the Hunger Games is the callous way the Capitol regards the CHILDREN of the Districts. It's central to the story and they needed to get that right. (And in a completely unrelated note Ms. Lawrence and I share a birthday, separated by a few years. And it should be said, I'm sure we'd be besties in real life and I hold nothing against her personally.) Also Katniss is olive skinned with dark hair. Now of course I'm familiar with hair dye, I employ is religiously on about an eight week schedule, but we've all seen the movies where that creates a fail. There wasn't one qualified actress with dark hair? And finally, she's a little too...I'm searching for the right adjective, refined? One blog I came across said that Jennifer was too babe-a-licious, and that she never pictured Katniss looking like Barbie but more like the girl who would beat up the Barbie.  Well said. 


What's next Halle Berry as Rue!


Am I overreacting?